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Information Regarding the New York Times Magazine Article Featuring Dr. Forest Huls

By Charles Parkos | March 2 2018

On February 14, 2018, the New York Times Magazine ran a medical column about a patient in Alabama who was diagnosed with Schnitzler syndrome, thanks to the insights of Dr. Forest Huls and his former colleagues at the University of Alabama.  We have received a number of inquiries from individuals seeking help from Dr. Huls since publication of the article and provide the following information for interested patients and families.

Dr. Huls is currently a physician-in-training in our Pathology Department, and we are glad to have him on our team.  As a physician-in-training, Dr. Huls cannot consult on patients independently at this point in his career. In addition, Dr. Huls is currently only licensed to practice medicine in the State of Michigan, and medical licensing restrictions preclude him from providing medical consultation for patients in other states.

Given that Dr. Huls cannot advise you directly and most serious medical conditions are too complex to diagnose by email, text, or telephone, we offer the following suggestions if you are seeking help for yourself or a loved one:

  • Ask your primary care physician or specialist if you might be a candidate for referral to an academic medical center in your region. Keep in mind that multidisciplinary specialists often see patients only when another physician refers them, and that most will require your complete medical records prior to an initial visit. Check with your health insurance provider about coverage for such care.
  • Regardless of where you are seen, physicians are better able to resolve a complicated or rare medical condition if they have access to complete and well-organized medical records. These may be obtained through the medical records office of each medical facility where you have received care.
  • Collect all of your medical records into a file, arranged by date, and include printouts or photocopies of laboratory tests (especially non-routine diagnostic tests), radiology reports, pathology reports (from biopsies or surgeries), and notes written by physicians and other healthcare providers. Obtain records from clinic visits and hospital stays.
  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) offers information about Schnitzler syndrome as well as many other uncommon conditions. https://rarediseases.org/for-patients-and-families/information-resources/rare-disease-information/

We wish you the best in finding an answer for your health condition.

 

Charles A. Parkos, MD, PhD

Carl V. Weller Professor and Chair

Department of Pathology

 
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